Live from the 2015 QE World Voyage

[MicCanberra]

Nice, thanks David.:D

[roscoe39]

Great photos, Roscoe. Always love to sail into friendly and lovely Auckland!

Patti

 

Patti...you are always welcome!!...this will be us next year!

[roscoe39]

Heres a grab from the Queens Wharf cam...

 

 

 

 

 

 

KIWI!...how do you manage to get your pics so big on here, all i can manage are the small ones, are you uploading them as jpgs? are you adjusting the size of them before you up load them and what too>>> thanks, I had a frustrating morning trying to upload.

 

thanks...roscoe

[Kiwi Kruzer]

KIWI!...how do you manage to get your pics so big on here, all i can manage are the small ones, are you uploading them as jpgs? are you adjusting the size of them before you up load them and what too>>> thanks, I had a frustrating morning trying to upload.

 

thanks...roscoe

 

I upload to either Tinypic or Photobucket. They give a URL and then you put that into the post with the code IMG in front and at the end eg

[MicCanberra]

Cheers. I still need to set up a photo bucket account.:D

[Oahucruiser]

Patti...you are always welcome!!...this will be us next year!

 

It's such a long time to wait but we have several weeks on the QE this summer in Europe thank heaven.

 

Can't wait for your photos from this evening of the poppy wall and the QE at night. The webcam from Queen's Wharf is fabulous; you move your curser and it shows the ship and harbor from early morning to late afternoon and even includes a small rain shower in mid afternoon all on one page. Impressive.

[roscoe39]

Cheers. I still need to set up a photo bucket account.:D

 

snap...but thanks for the hint about photo bucket.

 

roscoe

[roscoe39]

It's such a long time to wait but we have several weeks on the QE this summer in Europe thank heaven.

 

Can't wait for your photos from this evening of the poppy wall and the QE at night. The webcam from Queen's Wharf is fabulous; you move your curser and it shows the ship and harbor from early morning to late afternoon and even includes a small rain shower in mid afternoon all on one page. Impressive.

 

thanks, wasn't a small rain shower...we got caught in it...it was torrential!!

 

Couple of pics of the poppies on my blog..Ill see what I can get tonight though by the time I get down tonight they may have already taken it back on board.

 

Dont know about you but the year is going by fast...its already nearly MARCH!

 

regards Roscoe

[Child bride]

Thank you Barbara, we will look forward to coming.

Thank you MicCanberra for the link.

Not long to go.

[MicCanberra]

Thank you Barbara, we will look forward to coming.

Thank you MicCanberra for the link.

Not long to go.

 

no worries.:D

[Scrapnana]

Well ... we seemed to be on a different tour !

 

Awful dirty old van ... Abso no springs at all. Our driver was a very pleasant Tongan man BUT hello ... we didn't hear a thing because he had no mic and although he did his best I wouldn't recommend this tour at all.

 

After the 56th church I lost the will to live.

 

Nice place for the lunch stop and beautiful views.

 

I think what I have posted is a fair review.

 

Mads

 

Same was true last year. The group that went with Toni had a much more thorough tour than those of us who did not. The second bus did not go to the guest house for swimming but I found out much later that someone in the group asked to return to the ship instead.

[roscoe39]

It is a great harbour and city.:D

 

and then with a long slow melodic horn....she was backing off the wharf

 

 

 

hanging and slowly turning , a rainbow appearing off her bridge she continued on her way...

 

 

 

and she was gone.....sigh....

[roscoe39]

.

 

sorry the "100" was dismantled by the time I got down tonight so no further progress pics. The news here however has been full of publicity about it. I would like to see the continuation in Sydney, maybe some kind soul will keep us updated.

 

It was moving to see it and the Returned servicemen down there today so I wrote a further blog about ANZAC if anyone is interested.

 

http://roscoesseafever.blogspot.co.nz/2015/02/the-road-to-gallipoli.html

Edited February 27, 2015 by roscoe39

[MicCanberra]

Thanks Roscoe, nicely done.:D

[maggiemou]

WELCOME to Auckland!... Im sorry guys I struggled for ages trying to upload pics new poppy wall for the ANZACS but failed miserably, but I have put them on my blog if anyone wants to see the wall. Hopefully someone will post pics on here as the day goes on and we can see the wall grow,

 

 

http://roscoesseafever.blogspot.co.nz/2015/02/lest-we-forget-cunards-poppy-wall-27.html

 

Thank you Roscoe for your lovely photos.

I watched QE arriving in port on the web cam. Saw QM2 there a few days before. It was good to watch as we have been in Auckland the last two years so brought back good memories.

[maggiemou]

Same was true last year. The group that went with Toni had a much more thorough tour than those of us who did not. The second bus did not go to the guest house for swimming but I found out much later that someone in the group asked to return to the ship instead.

 

Yes, you are right Kathy. Last year I arranged the tour but once we ere all on the buses some bit spark decided they needed to get back to the ship by two Pm even though I had given then all run down of the itinerary. Plus some did not want to miss lunch !! If you recall we had a meeting prior to the tour and I had a menu that Toni had supplied me with, No one wanted to have lunch. But later they wanted lunch on the ship:confused: Arranging these CC tours can be a labour of love and hats off to who ever does it as you are never going to get everyone happy.

Our group in Toni's van had a fantastic day out and it was a great tour I would recommend.

We also had a great tour in Mumbai with Pranav. Kathy was on that tour and you may remember we had one lady who did not want to stop for more then a couple of minutes at each stop. She told Pranav we had to leave!

He got upset so as I was the organiser he said what do I do? . I told him to ignore her and stick to his routine/itinerary which he did. it was another fabulous tour. Again could have been spoilt by selfish people.

For those of you using Pranav you are in for a treat. We even liked the street food. :D

[DreamflightPat]

[/ATTACH]

 

[ATTACH]341656[/ATTACH]

 

here ya go....only took 4 hours and the reverse is full too, Ill take another when I go down tonight to see her off.

 

The dock was full of ex and current servicemen this morning...never seen so much silver on so many chests, I understand that there was a ceremony onboard and they were entertained to a meal and a tour.

 

the very least we could do for them!

Thanks Roscoe for the lovely photos. Brought back so many memories of my visit on QE to Auckland last year. Am patiently waiting in Sydney for her to arrive so I can board for my journey back to UK. Will try and take more pictures of the poppies for you.

[dawburg]

I hope you don't mind us barging in, but you look like you have it all together:)

We've just opened this thread as we will be joining the QE in Japan on March 18, and we were looking for fellow CCer's aboard. Will there be a meeting in one of the lounges around that date for those of us joining you there?

Thanks so much for your input,

Petra & Don

[bobby1119]

Very much enjoying all the world cruise posts, photos, blogs.

 

I was fortunate to sail a full world cruise in 2007 on QE2, and all the posts bring back wonderful memories of the great adventure.

 

Enjoy and thank you for taking the time during your holiday to post. :)

[alibabacruisers]

I hope you don't mind us barging in, but you look like you have it all together:)

We've just opened this thread as we will be joining the QE in Japan on March 18, and we were looking for fellow CCer's aboard. Will there be a meeting in one of the lounges around that date for those of us joining you there?

Thanks so much for your input,

Petra & Don

 

Welcome Petra & Don,

 

There is a M&G scheduled for 27 March (the first sea day after HK) in the Yacht Club at 12-1. I get off in HK, but I hope you will attend as you will meet

lots of CC there!

[alibabacruisers]

Friday, 27 Feb

 

Woke up early this morning after having slept quite a bit yesterday and overnight.

The Lido opened around 6:00 versus 6:30 this morning probably because we are

docking at Auckland's Queens Wharf East Shed 10 at 7:00. We are waiting at

this point for the announcement to be able to get off the ship and it is 7:08.

 

Saw a couple of CC friends at breakfast who are both on the Rotorua Excursion

today. They are meeting at 7 for a long 12 hour day! I checked the shore

excursion booklet and it says that they have a 3 hour ride each way! :o I

look forward to hearing about their day!

 

Captain doing announcement now at 7:10 with the required message regarding

taking food ashore...not allowed! Also we have to take photo ID ashore with

us.

 

Since we had been to Auckland before, we decided to try a visit to Devonport

today.

 

We got off the ship and there was a visitor's booth just outside on the dock.

We asked about the ferry to Devonport and he lady said we could buy the RT

ticket from her or inside...the price was the same 23 NZD pp. We bought them

from her and went inside the ferry terminal to Pier 1 which is the ferry to

and from Devonport. At the "gate" to get on the ferry there are people there

that will punch a hole in your ticket before you get on and they do the same

when you return to this pier after getting off the ferry. It was about a 10

minute ride across Waitemata Harbor to Devonport. There was only about 15

people onboard with us. When we got to Devonport we entered the Devonport

Ferry Terminal and there are several shops, as well as a bathroom, inside

and a few places that has brochures about the area.

 

I picked up a brochure called "The Old Devonport Walk" because we had decided

efore the cruise that that was what we were going to do today. The brochure

has the walk numbered on a map and each number has a little blurb about what

you will see. You can follow the map quite easily. So of we went.

 

It says you begin your walk along he foreshore where the great Waka (canoe)

Tainui landed around 1350 AD, where the British Navy landed in 1840. This

event is marked with a Flagstaff.

 

Then as you continue along King Edward Parade on the left there are two

matching buildings called Elizabeth House. It used to be called the Ventnor

Hotel which burned don in 1904. The Elizabeth House was taken over by the

Navy during WWII to accommodate the "WRENS" (WRNZNS or Womens Royal New Zealand

Naval Service). In 1952 the name changed from the Ventnor Hotel to Elizabeth

House but the Devonport people called it the Wrenery. The Navy vacated it in

1991.

 

Next, on the right side of the street, across from the Elizabeth House, at low

tide, you can see lava flows which resulted from Mt. Victoria's eruption. The

accompanying beach along the shore here has areas that are rocky with lava-

looking rocks as well as sandy beach areas. We saw lots of people walking

there dogs here and the dogs seemed to love it! They were running, jumping,

barking, and playing with each other; it was so fun to watch them.

 

Next, on the right was the Devonport Yacht Club. In 1895 it was then called

the North AShore Sailing Club, but due to the conflict between Devonport and

Auckland members, the name was changed to the Devonport Yacht Club in 1905. And

it was formed here in 1926.

 

The Calliope Sea Scouts Hall was named after a ship, Calliope, that visited in

1845. The original building has been replaced several times due to road

widening and being damaged in a storm. A little past this is the Tainui Memorial.

This was to commemorate the arrival of the Tainui Waka (canoe) in the Waitemata

Harbour.

 

If you retrace your steps a little, you go back to Church Street, which was a

main route in 1850. At the intersection of King Edward Parade and Church Street,

used to be the old ferry wharf, the hotel and a general store. Also,

in this area are lots of pretty houses and cottages here that represent what

houses may have looked like in the 1880's.

 

When you reach Vauxhill Road, there is supposed to be the Devonport Museum, but

we must have missed it. The brochure said it was open on Saturday and Sunday.

As you continue on Vauxhill to Albert Road you take a left. There is an

Edwardian style double-bay villa built in the 1880's in a style that was

common until the early 1900's. The houses in this area were pretty too, with

flowering hedges or nice fences. As you continue to head downhill on Albert

Road you will pass a cemetary on the left. There are quite a few tombstones

there and they were old. One of those buried here is a respected Maori leader

called Eru Patuone. The cemetary actually is on a slope of Mt. Victoria and you

could take a short cut by walking next to the fence a the beginning of the

cemetary to get to the summit, but we did not choose this option.

 

We walked a bit further to see the St. Francis de Sales Catholic Church and St.

Paul's Presbyterian Church. They were both so pretty. After these two churches,

is Kerr Street to your left. If you turn left and then take the first left again,

there is a road that you can walk to the top of Mt. Victoria. It is not too

far distance wise and takes about 20 minutes or so to walk it. It is steep, but

the view at different parts of the walk and especially at the top are so worth it!

There is a 360 degree view of Devonport and Auckland and surrounding water.

While we were there it was nice and sunny so you could see very well!

 

Once you can tear yourself away from the views, you stroll back down the way you

came to Kerr St. Then you turn right to get back to Victoria Road. At

Victoria you turn left where it is like a main street with quaint little shops

and the architecture of the buildings is very stunning. It is along these

shops that we picked a Fish n Chips place to have a bite to eat. It was

pretty tasty. We popped into a Pharmacy to see lots of other tourists and ships

passengers getting some cold medications. We checked the prices and felt they

were a bit high and decided to wait until we get to Sydney to purchase them.

 

As we headed to the Ferry Wharf, there was the Esplanade Hotel near the intersection

of King Edward Parade and Victoria Road. It was built in 1902 and modelled on

english seaside hotels of the period. Looking at it made you feel like you

were back in time. Time to head back to the Ferry Wharf and back towards Auckland. It was a nice day just walking around seeing Devonport.

 

The brochure said that trip could take you an hour, but we stretched it to about

3 hours. On the ride back across the Harbour we decided to head toward Sky City,

which we had not seen on the previous trip here.

 

Back in Auckland, we headed up Queen's Street and took a right on Victoria

Street. It was uphill to get to Sky City and what a beautiful site! We wanted

to go inside and take a look at the Casino, to compare to Melbourne and Sydney,

but since we had a backpack, they said we could not bring that in. So we just

looked from afar and returned to the ship.

 

At this point it was sunny and hot, although there were some suspicious black

clouds to the east, west and south. We donned our bathing suits and headed

for the pool. DH tested the water, and said it was a bit cold, which meant

I would sit on the sidelines and order a nice virgin strawberry daiquiri for

me and a ice cold beer for him. The pool area was practically empty, and once

we had our drinks and DH went into he the pool, the rain began with a few sprinkles.

I and a couple of others ran for cover under the new sails, but DH perservered

in the pool. The next thing you know the rain was coming down hard and fast!

We all had to change positions again by running under the deck area by the bar.

DH was staying put and enjoying the pool water mixing with the rain....that is

until the lightning and thunder began. As the rain slowed, he emerged and joined

the rest of us....we just laughed.

 

We have seen quite a few new people walking around the ship taking pictures,

and exploring with wide eyes and big smiles! I wonder how many got off and

how many got on? I don't think they have published, in the DP, this whole trip,

the list telling us the stats.

 

This morning at 9:30 the Captain and Senior Officers hosted an ANZAC Commemorative

Ceremony. The wall of poppies has been outside the ship all day as people

signed up to put a poppy on the wall in remembrance of loved ones. This wall

will accompany QE to Gallipoli for a ceremony when she arrives there.

 

I was glad to see the sun come back out so we went to the aft Lido deck to

watch the sail boats in the harbour. They looked so picturesque sailing towards

a bridge with the sun shining, blue skies and blue water, with the sails in

the same direction.

 

We were having dinner in the Lido when we noticed that the tour groups got

back because there were mases of people descending on the Lido looking tired

but ready to eat. Also in the Lido we saw lots of the new passengers trying

to get their bearings and even a few trying to get pictures of the food right

smack in the middle of everything.

 

Tonight, the entertainment will consist of Dale Kristien, star of Phantom of

the Opera in the role of Christine Daae; a Maori Cultural Show; as well as

all the other musical entertainment throughout the ship.

 

That's the night for us ...good night.

[DreamflightPat]

I hope you don't mind us barging in, but you look like you have it all together:)

We've just opened this thread as we will be joining the QE in Japan on March 18, and we were looking for fellow CCer's aboard. Will there be a meeting in one of the lounges around that date for those of us joining you there?

Thanks so much for your input,

Petra & Don

Welcome Petra and Don. Look forward to meeting you.

[roscoe39]

Thank you Roscoe for your lovely photos.

I watched QE arriving in port on the web cam. Saw QM2 there a few days before. It was good to watch as we have been in Auckland the last two years so brought back good memories.

 

 

Thanks Maggie, QM2 and the Victoria are due in next month, the QV on the 19th, and the QM2 overnighting on the 20 and 21....

 

Looking forward to them coming in as well.

[roscoe39]

Friday, 27 Feb

 

thats good night for us ...good night.

 

thanks Babarba for your continued rundown. Im really enjoying the thread where everyone is contributing to it from the ship. Its a good idea, and I hope more of the world cruisers take part even for a short while.

 

Glad you enjoyed your day in town, Devonport is a great days out and was a good choice.

 

Enjoy the Bay of Islands today i spent my childhood there. Its a very beautiful part of the country.

 

regards Roscoe

 

http://roscoesseafever.blogspot.co.nz/2015/02/the-road-to-gallipoli.html

 

http://roscoesseafever.blogspot.co.nz/2015/02/lest-we-forget-cunards-poppy-wall-27.html

Edited February 27, 2015 by roscoe39

[MicCanberra]

Thanks for the update Barbara, Devonport is on my to do list for when I get back to Auckland.:D